New Year's Eve Reflections

14 Questions for a New Year’s Eve Reflection

1. What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
Wayne getting a new job! and with that we’ll be moving!

2. What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
Having 3 different friends move away from the area.

3. What was an unexpected joy this past year?
Having one of those same friends move back.

4. What was an unexpected event?
My father-in-law passed away ~ I found it hard to be a support for my kids when I was also grieving.

5. Pick three words to describe 2014.
Intentional, Heart-warming, Thought-provoking.

6. What were the best books you read this year?
Forever Interrupted ~ Taylor Jenkins Reid
An Unexpected Grace ~ Kristin von Kreisler
Mean Streak ~ Sandra Brown
Keep Quiet ~ Lisa Scottoline

7. With whom were your most valuable relationships?
My family ~ all you gotta do is read my beautiful things each week and almost ALL of them include my family.

8. What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
Doing a daily devotional really brought me to a closer relationship in knowing God more intimately and deeply.

9. In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
Learning to accept the way I am.

10. In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
Having a deeper understanding of who God is and what he’s done for me.

11. In what way(s) did you grow physically?
Continuing to walk each day, despite my health issues.

12. In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
I’ve learned to be more intentional about who I spend my time with.

13. What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
Learning to play 2048 - internet game

14. What was the best way you used your time this past year?
By looking back over each week and writing about it for my weekly beautiful thing post. It really helped me to realize of all that I have to be thankful for.

Your turn ~ go ahead answer as many or as little as you'd like...

Blessings

Grey Day

Can you believe we are about to embark on a new year? 

2015 is just around the corner. When a new year approaches, it seems to roll in with much hope. There are 365 days in a year. No more and no less. And even though most of the days on my calendar are blank, God has a plan and a purpose for every single one of those days.

It’s at this time of year that most people often reflect on the year that is ending and make some plans for the year that will begin. Call them whatever you will ... plans, goals, or resolutions.

As I sit here this morning, I’m doing the same thing. Reflecting on my one word for 2014 and praying over the word for 2015.  

After a wonderful time of celebrating Christmas with our family combing food and games and chatter and hot tubbing and photo taking, today it’s quiet… almost too quiet, it feels kind of like a mental hangover.   It’s been a couple of days since the kids were all home for Christmas and while we had an amazing time together, I now feel a little lost… sure, there’s that post- Christmas cleanup and that huge to-do list that’s gotta get done, buuuuuuuuuuut, it isn’t the highest priority ~ all I really want to do is find a really good book grab more tea and settle in for a day of hibernation! 

Do you ever have those days when nothing seems to go right?

I’ve been there. Done that. Bought the T-shirt.

Trust me it’s not easy!

Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s bad…and sometimes it’s downright ugly.

Even though the day has started off a bit ‘off’ and grey there is a promise tucked away and I can take a deep breath and be reminded of the joy that will come…

… might be time for some power playlisting to get me moving.

Blessings

mhmm monday

This website shares these cocoa waffles studded with chocolate chips and finished with fresh strawberries, whipped cream, and a drizzle of chocolate syrup. It’s a “Treat Yo’ Self” kind of breakfast.

Doubles Chocolate Waffles

Ingredients:
 1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
½ Tablespoons Baking Powder
½ teaspoons Baking Soda
½ teaspoons Salt
2 Tablespoons White Sugar
1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar
3 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa
⅓ cups Vegetable Oil
2 Large Eggs
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
1-¼ cup Buttermilk
½ cups Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
Sliced Strawberries And Bananas (optional)
Whipped Cream (optional)
Chocolate Syrup (for Serving)

Directions:If you need to keep the waffles warm so they can all be served at the same time, preheat the oven to 200ºF.
Dig your waffle maker out from the back of your cabinets and preheat it. I usually put a paper towel or wax paper under the waffle maker to make clean up easier.
In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, sugars, and cocoa. In another bowl, whisk together oil, eggs, vanilla, and buttermilk.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Batter will be lumpy.
Depending on the size of your waffle iron, you may need more or less batter. I used about a ½ cup for one waffle. Pour batter onto hot waffle iron then scatter evenly with a small handful of chocolate chips. Close the waffle iron and let cook—it could take anywhere from 4-8 minutes. I find that mine are just about perfect once the steam has mostly subsided.
Carefully remove waffle from iron and place in a single layer on a baking sheet in a 200ºF oven to keep warm.
To serve, top waffles with slices of fresh strawberries, bananas, a swirl of whipped cream, and a drizzle of chocolate sauce. This made 5 waffles in my iron, but if you have a large Belgian waffle iron, it will probably only make 3.
Enjoy!

Blessings

Kick the Bucket

Anyone remember this?

When I wrote my version of a bucket list, I didn’t have a plan in place for how exactly how some of these items would happen. It was quite interesting watching as these different events/activites occurred. Some happened the way I thought, others not so much, and some… well they didn’t happen at all, and you know what? ~ that’s ok too! But what’s most interesting, well to me anyway ~ is that while my intent was to step out of my comfort zone and try some new things I ended up trying others ~ it just goes to show you that we can make all the plans we want, but that doesn’t mean it’ll happen.

So here’s the list and I’ve linked-up some posts to give you an update of what I`ve accomplished.

Develop a better discipline in my life by spending time in God’s Word each day. Reading a daily devotional and writing my thoughts each day {or sometimes two in one day - because let’s be honest here, some days I forgot}
Attend a music concert. Went to an NHL game.
Participate in a 10K run with my girl.Walked the Macnaughton/mMorrison trail {11K}
Learn to say “no” without feeling guilty. This is still and will likely continue to be a work in progress!
Continue blogging at least two or three times a week.
Take a road trip with girlfriends.  My mom, sister, daughter & I went to Port Huron for a weekend of shopping.
Serve in my community {food bank, church, library} July, EBC hosts a daycamp where I volunteered to serve in the Kitchen elective
Get this tattoo. Adding this to 2015.
Make a difference in someone’s life. Stepped out of my comfort zone and made a friend.
Write a book. Made my parents an 50^th anniversary book.
Learn something new {language, skill, craft}.  Spent time with my girl making cards.
Get my belly button pierced. Adding this to 2015.
Read 150 books in the year. {on book 98}
Ride the train. Took a ferry ride when we supported our girl for her marathon. 

Blessings

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 52

From this post you can clearly see we needed to update our family photo… so when all the kids came home for Christmas we took the opportunity after a delicious dinner of roast turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes, green beans, carrots, and coleslaw to quick snap this photo.

We then headed outside and took several more including this one.

Knowing that I would need the photos to add to this post, my son-in-law sent the photos attached with this note "Hello Mother, I have been advised to send you two pictures before we leave today, so here they are. Have a great day blogging and reminiscing of your wonderful day spent with me. ;)   g-man"

 

Totally made my day!

 

Having my family home is always a blessing.

What was your beautiful thing this week?

Blessings

Merry Christmas

From Us!

Blessings

Just Think

I am a planner, a list maker, a ‘I like to know what is going to happen before it happens’ type of person. I totally get excited as the new year approaches. It is a new beginning. A fresh start of our plans for the upcoming year. A time to make new lists!

Devotions {time with God}, I believe are an instrumental part of our faith walk. Being purposeful in reading a good devotional book alongside the Word equals wonderful time of growth in our faith.

So when I read
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11 {New International Version {NIV}}I get excited thinking about the plans He has for me more than any list of plans I can make for myself. It’s not easy to let go of the ideas or plans that I have made because really, no matter how many plans we have, how many lists we make, our path is not our own. He has already made our plans. He knows our path. There is simply is so much we do not know and do not understand, and yet we can trust that HE is taking care of it all. He has a reason for everything. Each season in our life is made perfect in His timing with His plans for His purpose.

Somehow, we’re almost at the end of the year 2014 and as I look forward to what 2015 will bring, I am praying that I would see His hand in every part of my life and that I would be only in those places where He has placed me to fulfill His special purpose for my life.

Just Think ~ Roy Lessin
Just think, you’re here not by chance, but by God’s choosing.
His hand formed you and made you the person you are.
He compares you to no one else–you are one of a kind.
You lack nothing that His grace can’t give you.
He has allowed you to be here at this time in history
to fulfill His special purpose for this generation.

As the year comes to an end, I encourage you to take some time and spend it with God, and may you be reminded that He has great things in store for each of us. He has a plan for us to shine His light the brightest. Our future and our dreams are safe in His hands. 

Can you even imagine the plans He has for you!?

Blessings

mhmm monday

As Christmas is fast approaching, I find myself looking for different recipes to serve the family.  So when “the girls” shared this recipe, I thought I'd add it to our Christmas day brunch!

Sugar Plum Brunch Ring

Ingredients: (yields 1 brunch ring)
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup water
2 tablespoons white sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoons salt
1 large eggs
1 tablespoons instant yeast
3 1/2 - 4 cups flour
1/3 - 1/2 cup candied fruit, small pieces
3 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions:
In a glass microwave bowl beat together first 6 ingredients until frothy.
Microwave one minute at a time for 3 minutes, whisking well every minute. Mixture should be warm like that of a baby bottle.
In a large bowl stir together yeast and 3 cups of the flour.
Pour warm milk mixture over flour and yeast. Add the candied fruit and stir until mixture begins to come together.
Knead adding remaining flour until dough is smooth and not sticky. You may need to add a little more flour if your dough is too sticky. Knead well for about 10 minutes.
Cover bowl of dough with a clean, lint free kitchen towel and place in a draft free place to rise for one hour or until double in bulk.
After first rise, punch dough down and pinch off golf ball sized pieces of dough. Roll each ball in melted butter and place in lightly greased bundt pan so that dough balls are touching. The dough balls will fill the bottom of the bundt pan. If you have extra just place on top of others.
Cover, and again place in a draft free place and allow to rise 3/4 of an hour. Dough ring will have risen to double or more.
Bake in oven preheated to 350º for 20-23 minutes. Remove from oven and turn out onto cooling rack.
Ice with a thin drizzle icing of 3/4 cup icing sugar thinned to a thick drizzle with 2 teaspoons melted butter and either 2-3 teaspoons of milk or maraschino cherry juice. Using the juice adds a little flavour and colour to your icing.
Tip: When kneading the dough I like to have 1-2 extra tablespoons of oil close by and add a little at a time along with the remaining flour. It will help the dough not stick to your hands and helps to make a nice smooth soft and none sticky dough. This dough produces nice bubbles from the yeast as you knead it. If you don't care for the candied fruit you can substitute with raisins. Candied fruit is worked into this sweet dough that bakes up into a pull apart ring. Maraschino cherry juice adds a hint of pink to the icing drizzle.
Enjoy!

Blessings

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 51

Sunday’s are quite often a family day. After spending time with our church family in the morning we quite often find ourselves with “the kids” for part of the afternoon.

I usually end up going for a walk through the trail with my girl, while the farmer takes his afternoon nap… as we walked through the trail this past Sunday, we came upon a little tree all decorated for Christmas, and it instantly put a smile on my face. So naturally we took a picture.

Each time I get one of my kids to take a picture of something, the next thing out of their mouth is “oh mom, are you going to blog about it”… they say that like it’s a bad thing.   Ok sure, maybe I put more of my private life “out there” but I like to have a record of these things.

Anyway, as we continued to walk and continued our talk, I was reminded again of all the things I am truly thankful for.

What was your beautiful thing this week?

Blessings

Scheduled Rest

It’s late. I’m exhausted. And yet I can’t fall asleep.

My husband is upstairs and has been for the past several hours. And my brain is running 100 miles an hour over a to-do list. So I got up again, trying not to wake the snoring bear, and write down a list of these things hoping that having them on paper is the answer to getting the sleep I need.

I’m not a creative night owl {maybe you are?}. I’m actually the girl that requires about 8.5 11 hours of sleep to feel human and prefers to get all of her creative and business work done mid-day ~ because I am not a morning dove either.

More often I find that the creative juices really get flowing in the middle of the night. It’s the time where ideas are generated and when my mind is still and peaceful. Where it’s free to wander and dream. It’s during these times of rest when I really feel connected to God on a deeper level.

And yet, too often I find that I avoid resting during the day by:
reading this mindless article we found on Facebook
glaring at Pinterest trying to force a spurt of creativity
simply staring at the to-do list, overwhelmed
rushing from one activity to another
never saying no, even when we know we should
tackling every thing on the to-do list as if the world depended on us to finish. Perhaps we may need to schedule a rest. Or have it scheduled for us! … like the past two Wednesdays when we found ourselves without hydro for the afternoon. 

If that doesn’t slow you down, I don’t know what will. It seemed like a bit of a test for me. What will I do now since I cannot sit at the computer ~ checking in with Facebook, looking up more fun things on Pinterest, doing the books, e-mailing and writing?

Yet when we rest we are able to take a closer look at what we think, where we spend our time and how we go about our days. Being more intentional about our whole purpose!

What are some ways you can create rest during the busy season, even with the power still on?

Blessings

Are you ready?

There are only nine shopping days left… {counting today}

Are you ready for Christmas?

I think I was asked that seven times the other day. And each time I wanted to respond with

“do you mean

… are we done with our shopping?

… have I finished started the Christmas baking?

… is the tree up and the house decorated?

… were the Christmas cards mailed?”

Or do you mean, is my heart ready to prepare Him room?

Is it that people really don’t know what Christmas is all about? Or do they not know what else to ask at this super-crazy-busy time of year?!?

Each year I watch my favourite Christmas classics and each year Charlie Brown’s friend Linus reminds me what Christmas is really all about.

It causes me to pause and smile.

So, am I ready?

On the outside, it may look that I am with our tree, decorations, presents, baking, Christmas cards sent, etc.

But my heart? I think it needs a little more preparation.

I plan to spend these next few days preparing this heart of mine by reading the account of Jesus’ birth in the book the Luke, praying, and keeping the truth of Christmas in front of me. I desire to celebrate my Saviour’s birth with joy, peace and gratitude.

What do you base “ready” on?

Blessings

mhmm monday

With Christmas only 10 short days away, I knew I needed to get cracking on making the snacking...

Here are two of our favourites snacks that we enjoy this time of year.

Nuts & Bolts

Ingredients:
Large box of Cheerios,
Box of crispix,
Bag of pretzels,
Half a container of mixed nuts,
Half container of cashews,
Box of cheese nips
3 Tbls of celery salt
3 Tbls of onion powder
3 Tbls of soya sauce
3 Tbls of worchestershire sauce
1 lb of butter {not margarine}
Directions:
Melt butter with spices and pour over dry mix and bake at 250 for 2 hrs. Stirring every 15 min.
Enjoy!
 
and

Christmas Crack

Ingredients:
 1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
9 cups Crispix cereal (any flavor)
3 cups powdered sugar

Directions:
Combine peanut butter, butter and chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl.
Microwave for one minute then stir to blend all ingredients thoroughly. Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Stir well.
Place the 9 cups of Crispix cereal in a very large bowl.
Pour the peanut butter-chocolate mixture over the cereal and toss evenly, making sure all the cereal gets a good covering.
Place the powdered sugar in a large zip-lock type plastic bag.
Add the peanut butter-chocolate cereal mixture to the bag, leaving enough room for the puppy chow to be shaken (you may have to divide the mixture into smaller batches, coating one batch at a time).
Shake the bag vigorously to evenly coat each piece of the puppy chow with powdered sugar.
Once the mixture is fully coated, place in a large serving bowl.
Coat any additional pieces by shaking the mixture in the powdered sugar.
Enjoy!

Blessings

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 50

For years my sister and I have referred to each other affectionately as “bliss”. Why, you ask? I really cannot remember how it started.

Over the years we have had a lot of opportunities to spend time together. Whether we’re making cards, baking Christmas cookies, creating meals for the freezer, celebrating our birthdays, camping together, and sharing many dinners with our husbands along side us.

Since she works full-time we’ve started making it a priority to meet just once a month, grab a cup of tea and sit together to catch up on the busyness that our lives well hers anyway, have become.

We met this past Monday, and spent several hours chatting, sipping, laughing, listening, and I thoroughly enjoyed our time. I greatly appreciate these opportunities to get together. Having someone that you know you can trust with your inner most secrets without fear of condemnation is such a blessing. Not only is she my sister but she is also a very dear friend and one that I am honoured to have in my life.

What was your beautiful thing week?

Blessings

Straight No Chaser

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Straight No Chaser

 

 

Enjoy!

 

Blessings

Happy Holidays?!?

It’s only two weeks until Christmas! and I confess the panic is beginning to set in.

Yes, the Christmas music is playing in the background. Sure the tree is up. And the halls? Well the halls are decked as best as one can with old decorations. The Christmas baking has been started, I’ve even watched my share of the Christmas classics and yet…

“It seems like I’ve lost my holiday spirit.”

Christmas can bring so many thoughts of expectations ~ decorations, family and friends, presents, food, energy… Why is it that we put ourselves under such a great deal of pressure through unrealistic expectations, comparisons with others and a need to prove ourselves?  

I know it’s supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year. And while I’m not quite up to Grinch status yet, I’m definitely not feeling holly or jolly about the upcoming festivities.

Confession: sometimes I have a bad attitude at the holidays {please tell me I’m not the only one}.

I want peace on earth but then I wind up feeling tempted to run over people with my shopping cart when they’re rude.

I want to spread cheer but then I get PMS and just want to spread chocolate on every surface I can find.

I want to shine brightly like the lights on a Christmas tree but then I get too busy and just want to say “lights out” so I can get some sleep.

I used to feel guilty about this quite a bit. What kind of person was I if I got all grumpy at the most wonderful time of year?

Each year the commercial side of Christmas seems to push the birth of Christ aside and yet, none of these things are what the Christmas season is really about. The truth is that Christmas isn’t about the holiday hoopla anyway.  The music and the gifts and the decorations are nice, sure. But the reason for the season? It’s Jesus. Just Jesus. And Just Jesus? IS ENOUGH.

Surely our focus should be on the birth of this baby who would change the world, the greatest gift God could give us ~ something to really be grateful for.  We need to reset our focus right where it is meant to be: on Jesus. The Messiah. The One who started it all, the One who gave it all.

Blessings

mhmm monday

Nothing says Christmas quite like red & green.  So when Krystle gave her dad his most favourite Christmas time dessert, I knew I needed to get my baking pants on and make him some more ~ because I knew those squares would simply not last until Christmas.  So with Christmas music playing on the radio, I knew I could get started with this recipe from this website.

Christmas Magic Cookie Bars 

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter
1 {14 oz} Can Of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
1 cup Holiday or regular chocolate chips (divided into 1/2 cup portions)
1 cup chopped nuts (I prefer walnuts)
1 cup Holiday or regular M&M's (divided into 1/2 cup portions)
1 1/2 cups flaked coconut

Directions:
Place 13" x 9" pan, with butter, in the oven and turn the oven on to 350° F. Butter can melt in pan while preheating. {Keep an eye on it, checking every few minutes and pulling out of the oven when butter is melted.}
When butter is melted, remove pan from oven and carefully sprinkle the graham cracker crumbs over the melted butter. Press in lightly with fork or back of spoon.
Pour sweetened condensed milk over the crumb layer.
Sprinkle 1/2 of the chocolate chips, 1/2 of the M&M's & the nuts over the sweetened condensed milk layer. Sprinkle coconut on top, followed by remaining chocolate chips & M&M's.
Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from oven. Allow bars to cool completely before cutting into squares.
Enjoy!

Blessings

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 49

Good friendship begins when you least expect it. I’ve written about my struggles with finding friends here, here, here and here.

True friends are a gift from God. They love us, laugh with us, comfort us and encourage us and in September of 2013, the value of friendship came to fruition when I gathered up the courage to walk over, say hello to Heather and invite her to tea. 

Most of us aren’t looking for just any friend. We are looking that special person with whom we can pour out our hearts. A safe place where confidences are held carefully. Friendship is unconditional loyalty and love. A bond of steadfastness and acceptance that allows us to be who we are, fully, without fear that love will be withdrawn.

And we shared that. Totally. 100%. Instantly.

However, by the following June, I found myself struggling again when God called them elsewhere.  I knew there would be a purpose in it, and looking back I can totally see God’s hand involved in all that has happened since they moved away and have since returned to the area.

We met for tea this week and we instantly re-connected as if she never left. I am so excited to renew our friendship.

What was your beautiful thing this week?

Blessings

Still being intentional...

It’s almost the end of my year of being intentional. This is an area that the Lord has been teaching me and refining me and I am definitely still “in progress”.  A very practical way to achieve this was through my use of words. Why, when, and how I used my words ... and how my tone is just as important as my choice of words.

I'm a words girl. I place great value in not only the spoken, but also in the written word as well. I love how words can be beautifully strung together in a way that move us to think deeper.

But I’m a slow writer. Painfully slow. The words don't come easily for me. I think a lot. I mean ALOT.

I want my voice to be true, my words sincere. So I try not to rush the process. I take my time, often only discovering what I truly think or feel as I'm writing it out. This “free therapy” is neither quick nor painless, but it’s {usually} oh-so-worth-it.

Backspace is my closest friend, since I seldom get it right the first time. I edit, chop, change, add, remove, abandon, start over... I rarely end up where I thought I would when I started.

Write.
Delete.
Repeat.

But using my words to talk? Now, that’s a whole other story. I gotta be honest here: I hate that talking lacks the luxury of time and backspace.

When I feel uncomfortable, or want to say something important or meaningful, or attempt to share something vulnerable, I can never find words ~ the right words ~ quickly enough. I pause at great length. I hesitate. I sit silently. I get awkward. I mean like really awkward. My mind trips over itself, trying and failing to find the best words to say what I mean.

I want my words to be fitting to the situation and to the person I am talking with. So what should I do? How can I speak words of life, joy, peace, and love in my day-to-day life? How can I be better prepared for the times when I am unaware that the temptation to speak otherwise is just one slip of the tongue away? How might my family & friends be recipients of grace through my words?

I want to get better at using my words ~ written or spoken. I want to be more aware of my thoughts, and less afraid of my own voice. I want to speak and write with honesty, live an authentic life, and to be intentional.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 {New Living Translation {NLT}}

Blessings

Letter "B"

Yesterday was busy

Banana Bread Baking,

Bookwork Balancing and

Beatles music Blaring...

despite the fact it was Monday, it was a beautiful day!

Blessings

mhmm monday

How do you make homemade banana bread even better? Kraft Canada tells you to add in some chocolate and make a Chocolate-Marbled Banana Bread. Try it - you'll love it!

Chocolate Marbled Banana Bread

Ingredients:
1 egg
1/2 cup Miracle Whip Original Spread
1-1/3 cups mashed fully ripe bananas (about 3)
1-1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
4 oz.Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

Directions:
Heat oven to 350ºF.
Beat egg, Miracle Whip and bananas in large bowl with whisk until
blended. Mix all remaining ingredients except chocolate in medium bowl. Add to banana mixture; stir just until moistened.
Pour half the batter into medium bowl; stir in chocolate. Spoon batters alternately into 8x4-inch loaf pan sprayed with cooking spray; swirl gently with knife.
Bake 1 hour to 1 hour 5 min. or until toothpick inserted in centre comes out clean. Cool bread in pan 10 min.; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool completely.
Enjoy!

Blessings

Christmas Classics

As the Christmas season approaches, each year I'd find myself searching through the TV guide, looking for all my favourite Christmas classics to watch. So when this list was shared on Facebook; I knew I needed to post it somewhere so I could easily find all my favourites, hopefully helping me to not miss any of the classics…

Here's this year's 25 Days of Christmas schedule!

And here are the ones I’ll be watching ... 
 
Monday, December 1
6:00 pm
NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION

Tuesday, December 2
4:00 pm
RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Wednesday, December 3
7:00 pm
THE SANTA CLAUSE 3: THE ESCAPE CLAUSE

Thursday, December 4
5:00 pm
RUDOLPH’S SHINY NEW YEAR

Friday, December 5
6:00 pm
DISNEY’S A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Saturday, December 6
9:00 pm
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

Sunday, December 7
5:30 pm
TOY STORY 3

Monday, December 8
6:00 pm
ELF

Tuesday, December 9
5:00 pm
FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND

Wednesday, December 10
6:00 pm
THE YEAR WITHOUT SANTA CLASS

Thursday, December 11
5:00 pm
JACK FROST

Friday, December 12
5:30 pm
SCROOGED

Saturday, December 13
1:00 pm
PRANCER

Sunday, December 14
1:30 pm
FRED CLAUS

Monday, December 15
4:30 pm
WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Tuesday, December 16
4:30 pm
RUDOLPH AND FROSTY’S CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Wednesday, December 17
5:30 pm
SANTA CLAUS IS COMIN’ TO TOWN

Thursday, December 18
6:30 pm
THE SANTA CLAUSE

Friday, December 19
6:00 pm
HOME ALONE

Saturday, December 20
8:00 pm
DR. SEUSS’ HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

Sunday, December 21
1:00 pm
THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY

Monday, December 22
5:00 pm
FROSTY’S WINTER WONDERLAND

Tuesday, December 23
7:00 am
MICKEY’S ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS

Wednesday, December 24
3:00 pm
THE POLAR EXPRESS

Thursday, December 25
9:00 am
MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL

What are your favourite movies to watch this season?  

Blessings

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 48

Last Sunday Krystle & Gerard decided to go to the States for some shopping. And no trip there is complete without a stop at Cracker Barrel.   "With meals at a fair price, their portions are super hearty, and when you sit down to enjoy the classic down-home meals, you’ll taste the difference right away." I simply love the atmosphere at these kind of places. And who doesn’t love the old fashioned country store ~ where you can find candy, foodies, clothes, toys, games, and a collection of one of a kind of unique gifts.

So when we heard their plans ~ we kinda invited ourselves along, because 1. who doesn’t love Cracker Barrel for their scrumptious Home-style Chicken dinner; 

AND 2. {and probably more importantly} who doesn’t love spending time with their kids.

What was your beautiful thing this week?

Blessings

S-l-o-w-i-n-g D-o-w-n

2014 is swiftly coming to an end. I don’t even like writing that. It’s almost December and there is a tiny part of me, that holds my breath as the holiday season approaches.

So.

Much.

To.

Do.

And all I want to do is slow it all down.

As I listened to my daughter rhyme off yet another holiday event for their already getting-full schedule, I knew that in order for me cope well in this season I must intentionally schedule in white space. No one can continue at a frenzied pace for too long… we need space where we can rest.

Slowing down helps me recognize and appreciate the little gifts in life I would otherwise miss.

Slowing down relieves stress.

Slowing down brings me joy.

Are you stressing out about what will or won’t be happening? Or maybe you’re so excited with anticipation ~ filled with dreams ~ imagining the memories you want to create.

The important thing in this ~ is this: be intentional.

So let’s make that promise to each other.

As one of the busiest seasons of the year approaches, may we fight the tendency to rush and race through it. May we intentionally slow down to experience all this season is filled with. To appreciate the little pleasures and gifts along the way. To not miss one single precious moment. To be blessed and to be a blessing.

Blessings

here's the thing...

since most of the blogs i regularly follow are written by americans, this time of year, everyone gets really thankful. i mean like. really thankful.

like list every day and tell you what they are thankful for to the point you are thankful for december because november is over kind of thankful.

you know what i mean?

don’t get me wrong. i’m all for being thankful and looking for the beautiful things in life. i really am; but as the month wears on, it kinda gets to me.

am i the only one who feels like this?

and yet, after reading all these blogs, i’m reminded once again, that i should be focusing on all i do have, and not what i lack. that i should take time to remember all the things i’m blessed with and stop wishing my life was different.

the thing about november …. and december … and every single day … is that i have to choose to be thankful. 

 

when i accept God's plan, regardless of how different it is from my own, i can choose to be thankful for what He has given me because i don't deserve any of it. i can embrace the circumstances He gives me because i can trust that His purposes are good and best and He is at work in my life.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 {New Living Translation {NLT}}
 

so happy thanksgiving my american friends and thank you for reminding me that i do have a lot to be thankful for.

Blessings

mhmm monday

Nothing beats a delicious muffin in the morning… or afternoon… or anytime for that matter, right?     So when I found this website that has many recipes, crafts & DIY's, coupons and deals, all because someone introduced me to Pinterest... I knew there would be recipes I'd be adding to my ever-growing to try list.

Peanut Butter Chipit Muffins

Ingredients:
2 Cups Flour
1 tbsp. Baking Powder
1 1/2 tsp. Salt
1 1/4 cups Peanut Butter
1 1/2 cups Nestle Mini Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1 cup Milk
2/3 cup Sugar
1/3 cup Canola Oil
2 Eggs
1 tsp. Vanilla

Directions:
Stir the flour, salt and baking powder in a large bowl.
Add the milk, eggs, sugar, peanut butter, chocolate chips, vanilla, and oil… and mix until moistened.
Fill up muffin liners in muffin pan 3/4 full – almost full.
Sprinkle the top of each muffin with a smidge more sugar
Bake at 375 degrees for approx. 18 minutes, or until done.
Recipe makes approximately 18 muffins.
Enjoy!

Blessings

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 47

With the Christmas season right around the corner, I knew it was time to get the Christmas cards made.

Now to be honest I am not the most craftiest of people so I kinda cheated and looked on Pinterest {yah! my girl got me hooked} and found a few designs I thought I could copy… by that I mean, I spent last Friday night with watching Krystle make my Christmas cards. Oh, sure,  I helped with the cutting, and the glueing and some of the stamping, but she’s the one who made them beautiful!

What was your beautiful thing this week?

Blessings

Flashback Friday

1971 Coca-cola commercial

Anyone else remember this?

Blessings

Morning Blessings

The sun is just rising on the morning of another day.

I admit it...I am so NOT a morning person. With the days getting shorter, it's even harder for me to pull myself out of bed. My hubby on the other hand... he wakes up with a song on his heart and can be heard humming even before the lights are turned on.

BUT...when I do manage to rise before the sun, I find great delight in watching it rise and stand in awe of the One who made it all. That always helps to put an end to my morning grumpies.  As I  watch the sun rise a song begins forming on my heart... the sun comes up its a new day dawning... it's time to sing your song again. I also find myself thinking of this verse; “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23 {New International Version {NIV}}

I may not always be a morning person...but God is. He gives each new day as a fresh start ~ new mercies are waiting for us with each sunrise. How awesome is that!

I’ve found that when I spend time first thing in the morning in the WORD, my day just goes better. I‘m also more apt to get in my daily exercise if I do it in the morning. It just works best for me and I am usually more motivated. It takes discipline to stick to this schedule and I’ve had to repeatedly remind myself to not sit at the computer and check the world through Facebook or e-mail, before I’ve checked in with God.

But here’s the thing even if when I stumble, I don’t have to wait until a new month or new year, today is a fresh new start… letting each new day dawn with great expectation.

Let's look for 10,000 reasons for our heart to sing!

Blessings

mhmm monday

What is it about coffee cakes that are so irresistible? Or is it just me? One minute they can be all there, in their entirety, and a little while later reduced down to a few crumbs? 

So when this website shared this recipe, I knew it was one to try.  

Raspberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake

A delectable cream cheese coffee cake with raspberries and chocolate chips.

Ingredients:
Cake:
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
½ cup sugar
1 large egg
2 tablespoons milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup + 2 tablespoons flour
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups raspberries, fresh or frozen (do not thaw)
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips
Glaze:
1 cup confectioners' sugar, sifted, plus more if needed
1 - 2 tablespoons milk
dash of vanilla

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×9-inch baking dish.
In the bowl of a stand mixer or in a large mixing bowl cream together the cream cheese, butter, and sugar on medium speed 3 minutes.
On low speed beat in the egg, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
In a small bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Beat in half at a time on low speed.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and spread out evenly. Drop the raspberries and chocolate chips over the top.
Bake for 28 - 30 minutes or until a toothpick in center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack.

Glaze:
Whisk the sugar, milk and vanilla together to make a glaze. If it's too thin add a little more confectioners'. Spoon and drizzle it over the top of the cake. Cut into squares to serve.
Store tightly covered in a cool place up to 2 days, refrigerate to store up to 4 days.
Enjoy!

Blessings

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 46

My beautiful thing for this week, technically started a week ago on Friday, continued into Saturday and lasted right until late Sunday night. It could have been posted last week, but I realized that I’d rather be in the moment, than write about it, and since it did continue until Sunday I figured could use it for this week…

You see, our son who lives in Orillia came home for the weekend. 

Since the hubs had a PA Day from bussing, we drove to Orillia and we brought Kyle home … and over the course of the weekend the other "kids" came to the farm as well.  Making the house full; of food, fun and family.

Having everyone home sure made this momma’s heart overjoyed!

What was your beautiful thing this week?

Blessings

9:23

Each and every morning at 9:23 am our little dog sits at the west window waiting for the bus to pull into the farmyard.  Once she sees it, she excitedly wags her tiny tail, hops off the loveseat, runs to the door wanting outside, and from there she runs out the lane, the bus driver opens the door and she enjoys a ride as the bus pulls into its parking spot. 

Sometimes it can be the littlest of things in life that can make memorablist of moments.

Blessings

Won't back down

To all who serve and have served ~ Thank you for not backing down!

Blessings

mhmm monday

This quick and easy Taco Soup came from this website and is sure to be a crowd pleaser each and every time served.

Easy Taco Soup
Ingredients:
2 pounds ground beef
1 small onion (optional)
2 garlic cloves (optional)
1 package of Taco Seasoning
1 1/2 cups water
2 cans un drained beans {black beans and Pintos}
15 oz. can whole kernel corn, {I omit this}
1 can {19oz} Diced Tomatoes
1 jar {680ml} Salsa
1 package of dry ranch salad dressing mix
Cheese, Tortilla Chips, Sour Cream (optional garnishes)

Directions:
In large pot or Dutch Oven, fry ground beef, chopped onion, and minced garlic, drain grease.
Add taco seasoning into beef mixture, and mix well.
Dump and Stir in the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally. The more time it has to simmer, the deeper the flavours. The Longer = the better.
The recipe may also be made in a crock pot. Just dump all the ingredients in the morning {only with cooked taco meat option}, and let it cook all day. If you have it on low, you can easily cook it for 6-8 hours. Enjoy!

Blessings

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 45

I've been making bottling my own wine for several years now.  So when Krystle invited me to Wine at Home’s It's Ladies Night! on Thursday from 7-9 pm I was up for some fun!

We sampled the all new HoHo Merlot & Skinny Mists and paired some Reds and Whites that tasted great!

Spending time with my girl, whether we’re shopping, walking, sipping or just sitting together, it’s always a beautiful thing!

What was your beautiful this this week?

Blessings

Changeling

Everything is changing. Okay, maybe not everything. And certainly not everything all at once.

The leaves have almost spent all their colour and are falling to the ground for another Canadian winter. The temperatures are changing.  The Soya beans have been harvested and Winter Wheat is planted. We’re definitely moving deep into autumn.

I like the changes that come with fall, and winter. Trading out capris, t-shirts and sandals,  for blue jeans, sweaters and boots is fun. The way the days cool and shadows shift. And of course there is the time change.

Last weekend, we changed our clocks back one hour to end Daylight Saving Time.   That wonderful time of year when we gain an hour of light in the morning only to lose the light at night.  It was not too long ago, that the annual “fall back” of daylight saving time was a little gift that plopped into my life once every year.

My internal clock though is having a difficult time adjusting back to standard time; and you know, I've been feeling quite grumpy.   During times like these, I’m learning the importance of taking care of myself. Getting more rest.  Slowing down and expressing my needs more clearly.  Sometimes change can be good.

Change isn't usually something I look forward to because it’s often uncomfortable. And yet, change is the only constant.

My prayer is to embrace the changes as God allows them into my life. To remind myself “what if today, we were grateful for everything” .

What about you? What’s your favourite thing about autumn? What lessons are you learning about change?

Blessings

The Flavour of Pumpkin Season

With Pumpkin month October behind us, I thought I'd share my 5 favourite recipes using pumpkin...

Pumpkin Spice Latté
Ingredients
2 tablespoons canned pumpkin
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice, plus more to garnish
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups whole milk
1 to 2 shots espresso, about 1/4 cup
1/4 cup heavy cream, whipped until firm peaks form
Directions:
Heat the pumpkin and spices: In a small saucepan over medium heat cook the pumpkin with the pumpkin pie spice and a generous helping of black pepper for 2 minutes or until it's hot and smells cooked. Stir constantly.
Stir in the sugar: Add the sugar and stir until the mixture looks like a bubbly thick syrup.
Warm the milk: Whisk in the milk and vanilla extract. Warm gently over medium heat, watching carefully to make sure it doesn't boil over.
Blend the milk: Carefully process the milk mixture with a hand blender or in a traditional blender (hold the lid down tightly with a thick wad of towels!) until frothy and blended.
Mix the drinks: Make the espresso or coffee and divide between two mugs and add the frothed milk. Top with whipped cream and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice, cinnamon, or nutmeg if desired.

Pumpkin Cookies

Ingredients:

2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground nutmeg
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp salt
½ cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups white sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
GLAZE:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
3 Tsp milk
1 Tsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract 
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350° F
Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, ground cloves, and salt; set aside.
In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and white sugar. Add pumpkin, egg, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to butter mixture, and beat until creamy. Mix in dry ingredients. Drop on cookie sheet by tablespoonfuls; flatten slightly.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in the preheated oven. Cool cookies, then drizzle glaze with fork.
To Make Glaze: Combine confectioners' sugar, milk, 1 tablespoon melted butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add milk as needed, to achieve drizzling consistency.

　
Pumpkin Oatmeal
Ingredients:
3 ½ cups milk, or more to taste
2 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp salt
½ tsp ground ginger
¼ tsp ground allspice
¼ tsp ground nutmeg
2 Tsp brown sugar, or to taste (optional)
2 Tsp pecan pieces, or to taste (optional)
Directions:
Mix milk, oats, pumpkin puree, cinnamon, salt, ginger, allspice, and nutmeg together in a cooking pot. Cook on medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring regularly. Sprinkle brown sugar and pecan pieces over the oatmeal to serve.


Pumpkin Muffins

Ingredients:
4 eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 ½ cups oil
1 ¾ cups pumpkin puree
3 cups flour
1 Tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375° F.
In a medium bowl, cream together egg, sugar, oil, pumpkin and beat until smooth. Mix in dry ingredients. Fill muffin time lined with paper ¾ full. Sprinkle each one with brown sugar.
Bake for 20 minutes until center comes out clean.


Pumpkin Cheesecake
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups gingersnap cookie crumbs
3/4 cup ground hazelnuts
3 tablespoons brown sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 (8 ounce) package scream cheese, softened
1 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups canned solid pack pumpkin
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
4 eggs
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour a 9 inch springform pan.
Using a fork, combine gingersnaps, hazelnuts, 3 tablespoons brown sugar and melted butter. Press mixture onto the bottom and two inches up the sides of the pan to form the crust.
With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the pumpkin. Mix in the cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, mixing until smooth.
Pour batter into prepared crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 90 minutes, or until center of cheesecake is set. Allow to cool in pan for 30 minutes, then refrigerate overnight.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I do! 

Blessings

Happy Harvest

The combine came yesterday to harvest the soya beans {insert happy dance}

 

 

 

It's been a little stressful these past few days. 

 

With the weather that has not been co-operating, frantically trying to find a combine guy and then of course getting wagons or having trucks available.  Add to that we need to be sure that you can travel in the field without marking it so that the wheat can be planted.  That the moisture of the beans is right for the mill to accept them without paying drying charges or being docked the premium promised at contract signing. 

 

Too often, I fret and worry; not that it does any good, but nonethess... the Farmer on the other hand, is cool, calm and collected. I'm always amazed at the patience my husband has during this time of year. 

 

Blessings



mhmm monday

This no-bake pie from this website goes from prep to plate in 30 minutes; and definitely one for the permanent recipe file. Starting with a cookie and peanut butter cup pie crust; peanut butter filling that is sweet, light and fluffy with bits of peanuts throughout, and then topped with homemade whipped cream and a generous amount of peanut butter cups, peanuts and chocolate. Truly the BEST. PIE. EVER!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cup Cream Pie 

Ingredients:
24 whole chocolate sandwich cookies
40 mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, (wrappers removed, divided)
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
1 (8-oz) package cream cheese, softened
1¾ cups powdered sugar, divided
1 (16.3-oz) jar chunky peanut butter, (approximately 1¾ cups)
2 cups heavy cream
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ cup dry roasted peanuts, chopped
2 oz milk chocolate, broken into pieces

Directions:
In a tall bowl whip heavy cream with an electric mixer until you can start to see a defined trail through the cream. Add vanilla and slowly add ¾ cup powdered sugar. Whip until stiff peaks form. (In other words when you turn off the blender and lift the beaters out of the cream, the cream stand up on the end of the beater). Place in the refrigerator while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
In a food processor combine cookies and 20 peanut butter cups. Pulse until your mixture is crumbs. Slowly pour butter in through the feed tube. Pulse until combined and crumbs are moistened.
Pour crumbs into a 9” pie plate and press mixture on the bottom and around the sides to form pie crust. Place in the freezer while you prepare the filling.
To prepare the filling: Combine cream cheese and 1 cup powdered sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add peanut butter. Beat until well combined. Fold in ½ of the whipped cream until it is completely incorporated. Pour into chilled pie crust. Smooth with a spatula. Pour remaining whipped cream over top. Place in the refrigerator while you prepare toppings.
Place the milk chocolate in a microwave safe mixing bowl. Heat for 30 seconds at a time, stirring each time, until chocolate is melted. Set aside.
Quarter the remaining 20 mini peanut butter cups.
Sprinkle peanut butter cups over pie. Sprinkle chopped peanuts over pie. Use a spoon to drizzle chocolate over pie (or transfer chocolate to a plastic sandwich bag and cut a very small hole in the corner, then drizzle over pie).
Refrigerate until ready to serve or serve immediately.
Enjoy!

Blessings

November is..

Diabetes awareness month.

So I’ve updated my Facebook cover photo and I wear a grey ribbon in honour of my son who has to battle everyday with this illness.

Blessings

Beautiful Thing ~ week # 44

As I sat and looked back over the past week, I realized that this was an super quiet week. There seemed to be the mundane sameness to each day. Laundry. Dishes. Cleaning. REPEAT. Until Friday.

Then I found myself at the centre working with this beautiful mermaid.

What was your beautiful thing this week?

Blessings

Good Reading

I have always loved to read. As a kid growing up, my favourite thing to do was to find a quiet corner and lose myself in a book for hours on end. Sure it was nerdy but it was always an exciting way to go on an adventure. To be honest, not much has changed now that I am an adult.

I still love to read. Throw in a few cups of tea and call it wonderful!

At the beginning of the year I set for myself a goal to read 150 books {currently I'm reading book #75} This goal seems somewhat lofty and I am not sure if I’ll get to 150 but I’ll keep on ~ cause yah! I like to read.

Here's a list of the 5 best books I’ve read so far!

On the Island ~ Tracey Garvis-Graves
“When thirty-year-old English teacher Anna Emerson is offered a job tutoring T.J. Callahan at his family's summer rental in the Maldives, she accepts without hesitation; a working vacation on a tropical island trumps the library any day.
T.J. Callahan has no desire to leave town, not that anyone asked him. He's almost seventeen and if having cancer wasn't bad enough, now he has to spend his first summer in remission with his family - and a stack of overdue assignments -- instead of his friends.
Anna and T.J. are en route to join T.J.'s family in the Maldives when the pilot of their seaplane suffers a fatal heart attack and crash-lands in the Indian Ocean. Adrift in shark-infested waters, their life jackets keep them afloat until they make it to the shore of an uninhabited island. Now Anna and T.J. just want to survive and they must work together to obtain water, food, fire, and shelter.
Their basic needs might be met but as the days turn to weeks, and then months, the castaways encounter plenty of other obstacles, including violent tropical storms, the many dangers lurking in the sea, and the possibility that T.J.'s cancer could return. As T.J. celebrates yet another birthday on the island, Anna begins to wonder if the biggest challenge of all might be living with a boy who is gradually becoming a man.”

What she left Behind ~ Ellen Marie Wiseman
“Ten years ago, Izzy Stone’s mother fatally shot her father while he slept. Devastated by her mother’s apparent insanity, Izzy, now seventeen, refuses to visit her in prison. But her new foster parents, employees at a local museum, have enlisted Izzy’s help in cataloguing items at a long-shuttered state asylum. There, amid piles of abandoned belongings, Izzy discovers a stack of unopened letters, a decades old journal, and a window into her own past.
Clara Cartwright, eighteen years old in 1929, is caught between her overbearing parents and her love for an Italian immigrant. Furious when she rejects an arranged marriage, Clara’s father sends her to a genteel home for nervous invalids. But when his fortune is lost in the stock market crash, he can no longer afford her care—and Clara is committed to the public asylum.
Even as Izzy deals with the challenges of yet another new beginning, Clara’s story keeps drawing her into the past. If Clara was never really mentally ill, could something else explain her own mother’s violent act? Piecing together Clara’s fate compels Izzy to re-examine her own choices—with shocking and unexpected results.”

Everything to Lose ~ Andrew Gross
“A determined, (down on her luck, ) mother caring for her handicapped son becomes entangled in a murderous conspiracy to keep a twenty year old secret buried in this blistering thriller, set during the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, from Andrew Gross, the New York Times bestselling author of 15 Seconds and No Way Back.
While driving along a suburban back road, Hilary Blum, who's just lost her job and whose deadbeat husband has left her alone to care for her son with Asperger's, witnesses a freakish accident. A car ahead of her careens down a hill and slams into a tree. Stopping to help, she discovers the driver dead--and a satchel stuffed with a half a million dollars.
That money could prevent her family's ruin and keep her special needs son in school. In an instant, this honest, achieving woman who has always done the responsible thing makes a decision that puts her in the center of maelstrom of dark consequences and life-threatening recriminations--a terrifying scheme involving a twenty-year-old murder, an old woman who's life has been washed out to sea, and a powerful figure bent to keep the secret that can destroy him hidden.
With everything to lose, everything she loves, Hilary connects to a determined cop from Staten Island, reeling from the disaster of Sandy, to bring down an enemy who will stop at nothing to keep what that money was meant to silence, still buried.”

The Puzzle Barktree ~ Stephanie Gertler

“Grace Hammond Barnett grew up in the emotionally desolate company of the strangers who were her mother and father. Her only happy memories are of the times spent with her younger sister, Melanie, and Jemma, the warm-hearted family housekeeper who helped fill the void left by Grace's detached, inaccessible parents. Now a mother herself, Grace feels trapped in a sterile marriage to a prominent surgeon and haunted by the recurrent dreams of drowning. Her only anchor is her cherished daughter, Kate.
In the aftermath of her parents' sudden double suicide -- a tragedy that leaves Grace, Melanie, and Jemma reeling -- Grace is bequeathed a house she never knew existed. Leaving her penthouse in Manhattan on New Year's Eve, she travels alone to Sabbath Landing, New York, to a log cabin house on Canterbury Island, surrounded by Diamond Lake. Here, Grace meets Luke Keegan, a local fishing guide whose family history is inextricably bound to hers...and to a devastating secret buried in the cloudy memory of childhood.
With compassion and elegance, Stephanie Gertler crafts an emotionally rich story of what it means to survive and thrive against all odds. Like its intricate, interlocking pieces that branch out to shape lives, The Puzzle Bark Tree plumbs the mysteries of the people we can never truly know...of the incomplete memories we carry with us, and the love that can make us whole.”

Mean Streak ~ Sandra Brown

“Dr. Emory Charbonneau, a paediatrician and marathon runner, disappears on a mountain road in North Carolina. By the time her husband Jeff, miffed over a recent argument, reports her missing, the trail has grown cold. Literally. Fog and ice encapsulate the mountainous wilderness and paralyze the search for her.
While police suspect Jeff of "instant divorce," Emory, suffering from an unexplained head injury, regains consciousness and finds herself the captive of a man whose violent past is so dark that he won't even tell her his name. She's determined to escape him, and willing to take any risks necessary to survive.
Unexpectedly, however, the two have a dangerous encounter with people who adhere to a code of justice all their own. At the center of the dispute is a desperate young woman whom Emory can't turn her back on, even if it means breaking the law.
As her husband's deception is revealed, and the FBI closes in on her captor, Emory begins to wonder if the man with no name is, in fact, her rescuer.”

What are you reading these days?

Blessings